More than $300,000 will be spent to improve water quality at Coomaditchie Lagoon under an agreement between the EPA and BOC Limited. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
A Cringila oil spill has cost gas company BOC Limited almost three-quarters of a million dollars.
More than 2000 litres of turbine oil from BOC Limited’s Cringila facility entered nearby drains and creeks in October 2023.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has accepted an enforceable undertaking (EU) from BOC.
EPA Executive Director Regulatory Operations Steve Beaman said the scale of the spill in 2023 warranted a strong regulatory response.
“This incident required a significant clean-up effort both on and off site, with volunteer support from BlueScope Steel, particularly in cleaning up a nearby waterway,” Mr Beaman said.
“Absorbent booms and pads were used to contain and remove turbine oil, while specialist contractors pumped out affected stormwater and creek water to minimise environmental harm.
“Under the EU, BOC is now also required to upgrade its systems and install infrastructure to protect the surrounding environment and reduce the risk of pollution events.”
In 2023 BOC Limited generated more than two and a half billion dollars in revenue.
As part of the agreement BOC must pay $300,000 to a Wollongong City Council-led project to improve water quality at the culturally significant Coomaditchie Lagoon.
It must also invest more than $168,000 in site infrastructure upgrades at the facility to prevent future spills and pay more than $273,000 to cover clean-up and the EPA’s costs.
Oil spills can cause short and long-term damage to freshwater and marine environments, from smothering and contamination to the long-term accumulation of toxic chemicals.
Nearby Coomaditchie Lagoon is a nationally-listed wetland and home to a variety of wildlife, including the endangered green and golden bell frog.
Illawarra waterways have also been recently identified as home to platypus.
Frogs and platypus are particularly sensitive to chemical contamination in their environment.
Mr Beaman said the undertaking would deliver real benefits for the affected environment and local community.
“Through this undertaking, we’re securing direct benefits for the Illawarra community and local habitats, including a project to improve water quality at Coomaditchie Lagoon,” Mr Beaman said.
“The lagoon project will include water quality monitoring, new solar-powered aerators to improve water flow and reduce algal growth, and a vegetation management plan to enhance habitat.
“Coomaditchie Lagoon is an important cultural site, and this work will be done in collaboration with local Aboriginal groups to assist in education and help preserve biodiversity and cultural heritage.”
The lagoon project will be led by Wollongong City Council in consultation with the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation.
The agreement also requires BOC to carry out major upgrades at its Cringila site to improve spill containment, including installing an isolation control valve at the final stormwater discharge point to allow rapid containment of spills, even when the site is unattended.
